Chris Nilsen

Chris Nilsen (born January 13, 1998) is an American athlete specialising in pole vault and high jump.

Chris Nilsen

Personal information
Nationality	American
Born	(1998-01-13) January 13, 1998 Kansas City, Missouri
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	High jump Pole vault
College team	University of South Dakota Park Hill High School '16
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	Pole vault 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in) (2019) Pole vault i 5.93 m (19 ft 5 in) (2020) High jump i 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) (2018) High jump 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) (2018)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing the  United States Pan American Games 2019 Lima Pole vault

High school

Nilsen graduated from Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Missouri.[1] Nilsen was raised in hometown of Kansas City, Missouri. Nilsen set the United States high school record in the pole vault at the Missouri Class 5 sectional meet with a clearance of 18-4 3/4 (5.61 m).

Nilsen won 2016 Kansas Relays pole vault.

NCAA

Nilsen attends University of South Dakota.[2]

Nilsen is a 6-time NCAA Division I First Team All-American, and a 3 time NCAA Track and field Pole vault champion.[3] Nilsen holds South Dakota Coyotes school records in the Pole vault indoor 5.80 m (19 ft 0 in) and outdoor 5.86 m (19 ft 3 in).[4]

Nilsen set American & NACAC outdoor pole vault U-20 record 5.75 m (18 ft 10 in) and American & NACAC indoor pole vault U-20 record 5.70 m (18 ft 8 in).

Nilsen honored as 2017 Summit League Indoor Field Athlete of the Year and 2017 Summit League Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year. Nilsen honored on the Bowerman Watch List throughout the 2017 outdoor season.

Nilsen won 2018 Texas Relays clearing 5.80 m (19 ft 0 in), later battled Sam Kendricks at 2018 Drake Relays where he cleared 5.78 m (19 ft 0 in) and described the competition in Des Moines, Iowa to Sioux City Journal.[5]

Nilsen placed second at 2019 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships and won the pole vault title in a NCAA Men's Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships meet record at 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Nilsen won Summit League student-athlete of the week honors for the 9th time in 2019.[6] South Dakota’s Chris Nilsen captured the men’s most outstanding performer of the championship accolade after capturing his third consecutive league pole vault title with a meet record vault of 19-0.75 (5.81m).[7]

Representing South Dakota Coyotes
School Year	Summit League Indoor track and field	NCAA Division 1 Indoor track and field	Summit League Outdoor Track and Field	NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field
2017 Freshman	Pole Vault 1st, 5.63 m (18 ft 6 in)	Pole Vault 1st, 5.70 m (18 ft 8 in)	Pole Vault 1st, 5.51 m (18 ft 1 in)	Pole Vault 3rd, 5.45 m (17 ft 11 in)
2018 Sophomore	Pole Vault 2nd, 5.20 m (17 ft 1 in)	Pole Vault 2nd, 5.60 m (18 ft 4 in)	Pole Vault 1st, 5.80 m (19 ft 0 in)	Pole Vault 1st, 5.83 m (19 ft 2 in) CR[8]
	High Jump 6th, 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)		High Jump 10th, 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
2019 Junior	Pole Vault 1st, 5.75 m (18 ft 10 in)	Pole Vault 2nd, 5.73 m (18 ft 10 in)	Pole Vault 1st, 5.81 m (19 ft 1 in)	Pole Vault 1st, 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in) MR

[9]

Professional

Nilsen began competing for South Dakota Coyotes and in Vermillion, South Dakota under coach Derek Miles in Fall 2016.[10]

In London at 2017 World Championships in Athletics, Nilsen cleared 5.60 m (18 ft 4 in) in the Pole Vault to place 13th.[11]

Year	US National Championship	Event	Venue	Place	Time
2018	2018 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Pole vault	Drake Stadium (Drake University)	2nd	5.80 m (19 ft 0 in)[12]
2017	2017 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships	Pole vault	Hornet Stadium (Sacramento)	3rd	5.75 m (18 ft 10 in)[13]
2016	USA Olympic Trials Track and Field Championships	Pole vault	Hayward Field Eugene, Oregon	T-18th	NH @ 5.40 m (17 ft 9 in)[14]

References

1. "Watch: Former Park Hill athlete Chris Nilsen claims No. 1 pole vault in NCAA". Kansascity.com. February 6, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
2. "Chris Nilsen University of South Dakota Track and Field 2017 Profile". South Dakota Coyotes. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
3. "CHRIS NILSEN SOUTH DAKOTA Track and Field Results". Retrieved June 6, 2018.
4. "South Dakota Coyotes Track and Field Records". Retrieved June 6, 2018.
5. JEFF BUDLONG. "South Dakota's Chris Nilsen continues to impress". Retrieved June 6, 2018.
6. "South Dakota junior Chris Nilsen has been named the Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week". Retrieved June 5, 2019.
7. "NDSU Men, Women Sweep Summit League Track & Field Championships". KVRR-TV. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
8. "Men Pole vault Final NCAA Division I Championships Historic Hayward Field -- Eugene, OR - June 6, 2018". Retrieved June 6, 2018.
9. "Chris Nilsen Track and Field results from South Dakota and professional championships". Retrieved June 6, 2018. TFRRS
10. "South Dakota Coyotes 2018 Track and Field Coach Derek Miles". Retrieved June 6, 2018.
11. "16th IAAF World Championships August 4 - August 13, 2017 - London Stadium - London, UK". Retrieved June 6, 2018.
12. "2018 USATF Championships Male Pole Vault Results - 6/21/2018 to 6/24/2018". Retrieved July 10, 2018.
13. "2017 USATF Championships Results - 6/22/2017 to 6/25/2017 Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, California". Retrieved June 6, 2018.
14. "2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field Results - 6/30/2016 to 7/10/2016 Eugene, Oregon". Retrieved June 6, 2018.

External links

• Chris Nilsen at World Athletics